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All of those HTC Hero owners that have been enjoying the Android 2.1 firmware update for months now should spare a thought for those on the Telus network, who have only just now been given the upgrade. New features include Flash support 4.0, Google Maps Navigation, Voice-dialler, Multi-Touch navigation, People Group Widgets.

It’s taken a while, but Three UK finally started to roll out the Android 2.1 update to HTC Hero owners from last night. The update is all in one package as previously promised. If you can’t see it yet, just use the old age trick of setting your phone clock a few months into the future and you should get the update pop-up.

Three has just released a statement saying that it expects Google to approve the Android 2.1 release for HTC Hero handsets in the next two weeks. This may help to placate the angry HTC Hero owners on 3, some of whom have set up a facebook page demanding the release. The short statement from Three is attached below.

Three has now tested and approved the 2.1 update for HTC Hero and it has been submitted to Google to get the final go-ahead. We’re hoping that they can approve it within the next 2 weeks and then we can start updating Three customers with HTC Hero’s.

Two down, one to go. Both T-Mobile and Orange have received the Android 2.1 update for the HTC Hero handsets, however Three users are still waiting. They were targeting a “Mid to late July” timeframe however the company has now confirmed that it has been delayed.

Brendan Arndt from Three said that the software has been submitted to Google to get the “final go-ahead” and that “we’re not clear on the timescales for this yet.” He blamed the fact that Three operates within a smaller team than some of their bigger rivals and a number of recent high profile launches including the iPhone 4 and Samsung Galaxy S has stretched the team. [click to continue…]

Okay, the official HTC statement from yesterday suggested that Orange users will see the Android 2.1 update from next week. However, it seems they’ve got over all of there QA issues and the final Android 2.1 update is rolling out as we speak. Check your phone for the update now.

Orange has given official word that the Android 2.1 HTC Hero update will be landing for its customers from the beginning of next week. The company apologised for the delay and said that testing had taken longer than anticipated. We started to see the preparatory update hit Orange phones yesterday. See the official statement from Orange below:

“We apologise for the delay in Orange Hero customers receiving their Éclair update. Testing the update across European markets took longer than anticipated. However, we hope to receive final approval by the end of the week and Orange handsets should start updating from next week.”

Update: A point of clarification. As pointed out in the comments, this statement is from HTC and not Orange. Either way, the Android 2.1 update should be hitting Orange HTC Hero handsets next week.

Android 2.1 may finally be hitting Orange HTC Hero users very soon as the preliminary update is rolling out to all handsets as we speak. This follows many angry Orange customers complaining about how long this update has taken.

This preliminary update basically gets the Hero ready to receive the full Android 2.1 firmware. We don’t know when the latter part of the update will come through, however sit tight, it can’t be too long now.

Orange UK owners of the HTC Hero have set up a group on Facebook to highlight their frustration in still not having received the Android 2.1 update. T-Mobile pushed their update over a week ago. As of writing, 596 members have joined the group and a number of letters have been written to Orange’s CEO to highlight their concern.

The group is called “Orange UK – Give HTC Hero owners the 2.1 Update – NOW“. The group’s founder, Geoffrey Mansfield, says that Orange UK Customer Service department will not give any definitive answers to questions posed by numerous customers on various android forums. “Please use this group to register your disapproval, and I will forward the group link to Orange UK, for consideration,” he goes on to say. Have you been affected? If so, you may as well join the group and add your voice. Whether Orange will bring the update any quicker is another story.

A couple of weeks after the GSM HTC Hero received the Android 2.1 update, it looks like those with branded phones are finally starting to see the update coming through. T-Mobile is pushing the update as we speak, so if you’re on the network check your phone right now!

The first details of Android’s next major revamp, codenamed Gingerbread, has reportedly been leaked by Eldar Murtazin of Mobile-Review.com fame. He revealed some juicy details in a Russian podcast. None of this can be verified as we don’t speak Russian, so we’ll have to trust unwiredview on this one!

They say that Android Gingerbread will be targeted at high-end devices and will therefore have a number of minimum specs. This includes a 1GHZ CPU, 512MB or RAM and a display larger than 3.5-inches. Interestingly, a new 1280×760 pixel resolution will also be supported for devices larger than 4-inches. It will also come with a completely revamped user interface. The arrival of Gingerbread should also mean the end of customised UI skins like HTC Sense. Apparently, Gingerbread will launch in mid-October and the first handsets shipping with the new OS will appear in November/December. Just in time to retire the HTC Hero…

In a blow to those on the Three network in the UK, it looks as if the Android 2.1 update will not be hitting the handset until “Mid to late July” according to Pocket-Lint.

It’s unclear whether a similar delay will be hitting Orange and T-Mobile, although it’s looking increasingly likely. T-Mobile remain quiet on their official forums which could mean the update will release post the end of the month. We’ll keep you posted.

Okay Europe, this is the day you’ve been waiting for. It looks like HTC has just about managed to stick to its H1 2010 deadline and is now releasing the Android 2.1 update for the HTC Hero across Europe as we speak. I haven’t noticed anything appear on HTC’s support site, but according to people [...]

Sprint today confirmed that the Sprint HTC Hero will not be getting the Android 2.2 (Froyo) update later in the year. Only newly released handsets such as the HTC EVO 4G will be getting the Froyo update. Whilst the news is hardly surprising, it probably doesn’t give much confidence that a phone less than a [...]

The HTC Hero Android 2.1 update is due in two parts, the first was a preparatory update for the main course, the full Éclair update. The company has said that this will hit by the end of the month, although here in Europe we’re still waiting. Hopefully, though there’s not to long to wait now [...]

First of all we just wanted to say thanks to all that entered our competition to win a 3200mAh Mugen Power battery for the HTC Hero. The number of entries certainly exceeded our expectations, it just goes to show how many are looking for an increase in runtime of their phone. To decide the winner, [...]